Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and queer people tend to feel more accepted in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland than in most other parts of Canada. All along the west coast, LGBTQs tend to cluster in identifiable communities— West Hollywood, the Castro, and Vancouver’s own West End. But are we seeing the demise of the “gaybourhood?” What special needs do LGBT people have? How should (and do) cities, Metro Vancouver and the province plan for them? What are the opportunities and challenges of planning LGBTQ-specific spaces? How do the intended recipients of this planning participate in developing queer-specific and friendly spaces, and how can these spaces generate a more diverse understanding of their users?

To start the conversation, we welcome Dr. Tiffany Muller Myrdahl, Asst. Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at SFU and the Woodward Chair of Gender & Urban Studies; and Metha Brown, Program Manager of Peace It Together, and a member of Vancouver’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee. Then, it’s your turn.